Mind the (guidance) signals! Translational relevance of semaphorins, plexins, and neuropilins in pancreatic cancer
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
Brain gene therapy with Trojan horse lipid nanoparticles
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine was developed by the scalable manufacture of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that encapsulate mRNA within the lipid. There are many potential applications for this large nucleic acid delivery technology, including the delivery of plasmid DNA for gene therapy. However, gene therapy for the brain requires LNP delivery across the ...
Upper respiratory tract mucosal immunity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination significantly reduces morbidity and mortality, but has less impact on viral transmission rates, thus aiding viral evolution, and the longevity of vaccine-induced immunity rapidly declines. Immune responses in respiratory tract mucosal tissues are crucial for early control of infection, and can generate long-term antigen-speci...
Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with cancer.
Published in Trends in molecular medicine
Transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its corresponding disease (COVID-19) has been shown to impose a higher burden on cancer patients than on the general population. Approved vaccines for use include new technology mRNA vaccines such as BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and nonreplicating viral vector vaccines such as Ad26.COV...
Shining a light on comorbidities
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced adverse effects: unwinding the unknowns
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
The spike hypothesis in vaccine-induced adverse effects: questions and answers
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
Trougakos and colleagues recently discussed the role of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine-induced spike (S) protein in adverse effects following vaccination [1]. We would like hereafter to answer one of their outstanding questions requiring response to improve efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and to propose an additional que...
A new day for human challenge trials?
Published in Trends in molecular medicine
Two years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and following several hot debates, the world's first COVID-19 human challenge trial has recently been published by Killingley et al. We review its findings and explain why this particular juncture in time makes additional challenge trials for COVID-19 and for other diseases justified a...
Adverse effects of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines: the spike hypothesis.
Published in Trends in molecular medicine
Vaccination is a major tool for mitigating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and mRNA vaccines are central to the ongoing vaccination campaign that is undoubtedly saving thousands of lives. However, adverse effects (AEs) following vaccination have been noted which may relate to a proinflammatory action of the lipid nanoparticles use...
Olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19: pathology and long-term implications for brain health
Published in Trends in Molecular Medicine
Decreased smell function is related to brain health, future mortality, and quality of life. Most people inflicted with the SARS-CoV-2 virus evidence some measurable smell dysfunction during its acute phase, although many are unaware of the loss. Long-term deficits occur in up to 30% of COVID-19 cases, although total anosmia is relatively rare. This...
